Thompson Bucks the Trend but Sounds the Alarm
With nursing homes from Buffalo to Long Island cutting back on beds or shutting down entirely, elderly hospital patients across the state often stay in the hospital for weeks or even months while waiting for a long-term spot to open up. Sometimes, the only option is far from home.
Thompson Health Vice President of Long-Term Care Mathew Janczak is administrator of the nonprofit health system’s 178-bed M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, which often fields calls from families anxious for a placement.
“We’re here to give care to our community,” he said, “and knowing there are people desperately looking for a place for loved ones is very challenging.”
Janczak said much of the crisis stems from a lack of appropriate funding. While some residents’ care is costlier than others due to their unique needs, Medicaid reimbursement in New York State is – on average – just 70% the actual cost of care. This means for the typical resident on Medicaid, Thompson loses approximately $100 per day. In 2024, this resulted in a loss of $1 million.
At the same time, New York cut the capital component of funding by 10 percent in 2024. Therefore, Thompson has less money to work with in updating its 54-year-old facility, whether it’s the roof, the heating and cooling system, or the equipment used by associates in safely lifting residents.
Despite this, the Continuing Care Center is bucking the trend. For now.
Throughout the pandemic and the widespread staffing challenges following it, the facility kept all of its beds open, unlike so many other nursing homes in New York. It is rated by the state within the top quintile for quality, and for the past seven years has achieved primarily five-star overall ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - something found in only 10% of nursing homes nationwide.
In addition, the Continuing Care Center nurses are all employed by Thompson; it does not rely on travel nurses, resulting in substantial savings.
“We give great care, our beds are full, and we’re still losing money,” Janczak said.
Each year, Janczak and Thompson Health President/CEO Michael F. Stapleton, Jr. meet with lawmakers and spearhead efforts to increase awareness about the funding gap and its ripple effects.
In the meantime, Thompson continues pursuing aggressive associate recruitment strategies and innovative retention programs.
For example, the health system partners with Finger Lakes Community College for certified nursing assistant (CNA) training, covering the cost for students. Also, top-performing CNAs at the Continuing Care Center are encouraged to become licensed practical nurses, with Thompson paying their tuition and providing stipends to help cover living expenses while they attend school and work only part-time.
“It’s not a quick fix, but by supporting our exceptional CNA staff to meet their dreams of becoming nurses, we are creating a lasting positive effect for our facility and the community,” said Long-Term Care Director of Nursing Diane Hayton.
Challenges persist, but Janczak remains hopeful. He said, “I truly believe New York State can step up to meet this challenge. By recognizing the value of our elders and the caregivers who support them, we can create a sustainable system that ensures dignity and quality care for generations to come.”
Pictured: Thompson Health Vice President of Long-Term Care Mathew Janczak; Long-Term Care Director of Nursing Diane Hayton.